N.Y., N.J. flights from McCarran may be canceled

Ed Koch And Keith Paul

Monday, Nov. 12, 2001 | 9:34 a.m.

At least 11 New York- and New Jersey-bound flights out of Las Vegas and nine flights headed to Las Vegas from airports in those Eastern states were in danger of being canceled today in the wake of the crash of an American Airlines jetliner from John F. Kennedy International Airport.

As of early today only one JFK-bound flight from McCarran International Airport and one to Newark had been put on hold, McCarran spokeswoman Hilarie Grey said.

National Airlines Flight 300, scheduled to take off at 9:10 a.m. today for JFK, was grounded at McCarran, as was Continental 569, scheduled to leave McCarran for Newark at 9 a.m.

Shortly after the plane with 255 people on board crashed into a residential neighborhood after takeoff from JFK, that airport, Newark and Laguardia in New York all were shut down. There were no flights scheduled between Laguardia and Las Vegas today, Grey said.

There were, however, five additional flights scheduled for today from Las Vegas to Newark and four additional flights to JFK.

Metro Police have not increased their alert status or added more officers to the street in reaction to the plane crash today in New York. Metro officials are waiting for federal investigators to determine the cause of the crash.

"If this turns out to be terrorist, then I think we will go to a higher security level," Lt. Vincent Cannito, a Metro spokesman, said. "We are geared up and ready to go without overreacting and not underreacting."

Metro also has not changed security at the Comdex, a computer trade show in town this week. Cannito said security is very high at the trade show, with police dogs sniffing all incoming packages and undercover officers patrolling the show along with uniformed security.

Meanwhile, airport officials waited to determine how the crash would affect flights for the rest of the day.

Earlier today two McCarran-bound flights took off from JFK and three from Newark. Four additional flights from JFK were scheduled to fly to Las Vegas before the airport was shut down and five additional flights from Newark were to take off today.

In addition to the grounded plane, flights scheduled to depart Las Vegas for JFK today were America West 51 at 11:45 a.m., National Airlines 304 at 12:40 p.m., America West 52 at 4:16 p.m. and National Airlines 408 at 4:30 p.m.

Other flights scheduled to leave for Newark today were Continental 769 at 9:05 a.m., Continental 1569 at 11:50 a.m., National 674 at 12:40 p.m., Continental 1669 and America West 216 later this afternoon.

Two planes departed from JFK today before the crash: National Airlines Flight 7 and America West 193.

Three planes took off from Newark before the closure: Continental Flight 768, National Airlines Flight 20 and America West 212.